It’s Pet Dental Health Month. Here are 8 cool things to know about dog teeth
By Kim Campbell Thornto
Andrews McMeel Syndication
When you look at your dog’s teeth, you’re looking at the canine version of a multipurpose tool. Dogs don’t have opposable thumbs or long fingers for grasping objects, so their teeth often stand in for hands. Teeth are good for picking up toys, holding onto things, scratching an itch, removing parasites from fur, defense and, of course, eating.
Anatomically, dog teeth have some interesting differences from human teeth, as well as some similarities.
First, the numbers: Dogs have 42 teeth, while humans have only 30. But not every dog has 42 teeth.
Hairless dogs such as Chinese cresteds, Peruvian Inca orchids (PIO for short), and Xoloitzcuintli (aka Mexican hairless) not only lack a coat, they are often lacking certain teeth as well. The missing hair and teeth result from a mutation on a gene called forkhead I3 gene (FOXI3). Dogs with two copies of the FOXI3 mutation are hairless, those with a single copy have some hair and those with no copies have a regular coat and dentition. In Chinese cresteds, dogs with a normal coat and teeth are called powderpuffs. Xolos and PIOs with hair are simply referred to as “coated.”
Like human teeth, canine teeth are formed in layers. Enamel, the white part that you see when your dog smiles at you, is the hardest substance in the body. Beneath the enamel is dentin, the main support structure of the tooth, which, unlike enamel, continues to thicken throughout the dog’s life. Harder than bone but not as hard as enamel, it’s sensitive to temperature and pain. Inside the dentin is the pulp, living tissue that contains blood vessels, nerves and the cells that produce dentin.
Dogs have longer tooth roots than humans. According to veterinary dental specialist Jan Bellows, DVM, 60% of an animal’s tooth is below the gumline.
Primary, or first, teeth -- also known as deciduous teeth -- start to erupt when puppies are 4 to 6 weeks old. Baby teeth consist of incisors, canines and premolars. Molars hang back and come in with the secondary, or permanent, teeth. (That’s why puppies have only 28 teeth while adult dogs have 42.) Secondary teeth start to push their way through when pups are 3 months old and are completely in by the time pups are 7 months old.
Sometimes, baby teeth hang on rather than falling out, causing crowding in tooth sockets. These persistent primary teeth need to come out so they don’t push permanent teeth out of place.
Chewing can ease the pangs of incoming teeth, but puppy chew items should be soft so they don’t break the primary teeth, which have weak enamel and dentin, Dr. Bellows says. “No antlers, no bones, no nylon chews, because they break teeth,” he says. “Once those teeth break, bacteria (can) get into the pulp and travel down to the apex of the root, which can affect the secondary tooth permanently.”
Some dogs need orthodontic treatments, not for a pretty smile, but to give the dog a functional, pain-free bite -- not a mailman kind of bite, but the way the teeth are aligned. Dogs have a scissors bite, meaning the upper incisors overlap the lower incisors and the lower canines fit between the upper third incisor and the upper canine. When the bite isn’t right, it’s called a malocclusion and can cause pain. That’s when dogs need orthodontic attention.
“If they have a malpositioned tooth, or if they have a skeletal deformity, where the lower teeth are making holes in the upper palate, then they should seek the advice of a veterinary dentist to either decrease the height of the teeth that are causing the problems and restoring them; putting medicine on top of the pulp and putting bonding on it so the canines aren't penetrating anymore; moving the teeth to functional positions; or taking them out,” Dr. Bellows says.
Q&A
CGC title gives
dogs options
Q: What are the benefits of a Canine Good Citizen title for a dog?
A: I’m glad you asked! Dogs who earn a CGC have a foundation of good manners and skills that will stand them in good stead throughout life.
Dogs are evaluated on 10 different skills: greeting a friendly stranger; sitting politely for petting; willingly allowing brushing and paws and ears to be handled; walking on a loose leash; moving politely through a crowd; sitting, lying down and staying in place on cue; coming when called; behaving politely around other dogs; reacting with confidence to distractions; and being left with a trusted person.
The CGC title can be earned by any dog of any age, breed or mix. It’s often required for making therapy dog visits -- in addition to regular therapy dog training -- and it’s a good basis for learning other skills and dog sports. Your homeowners’ insurance company may offer a discount if your dog earns a CGC, or you may find that it’s a requirement for moving into an apartment or condo complex. Hotels may waive or discount pet fees if you show proof of your dog’s CGC.
Young dogs can start with the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program and progress to the CGC title. Shelter dogs or dogs in other special situations may benefit from the CGC-Ready program, which preps them for the CGC test.
After acquiring their CGC, city dogs can earn the CGC-U title, demonstrating their skills at navigating urban environments -- riding on an elevator, for instance. They are tested in public settings that include traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions. A CGC-U title might be required for your pet dog to ride public transportation or enter certain dog-friendly establishments.
Bonus: CGC training will help you and your dog develop strong communication skills. Always train with someone who uses positive-reinforcement techniques. -- Mikkel Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Smart tips to
housetrain pup
-- Got a new pup? Here are some housetraining tips. Puppies need to relieve themselves after they wake up, after they eat or drink, and after play. Take him out immediately after those activities, and reward him as soon as he potties outdoors with praise or a treat (or both!). When you know he’s “empty” because you saw him potty, he can play in the house under supervision. When you can’t supervise, give him some downtime in his crate. That will help him learn to “hold it.” Remember that young puppies, especially small breeds or mixes, can't go very long without eating, drinking, sleeping or relieving themselves. A good rule of thumb: Puppies can hold it as long as their age in months. A 2-month-old pup can stay in a crate for about two hours, for example.
-- Birds keep their feathers fine by drawing them through their beaks, cleaning and coating them with oil they pull from a gland at the base of their tails. This behavior is called preening. Preening is a social behavior, too; besides preening each other, birds may also enjoy preening the hair of their favorite people.
--If your cat is sneezing and has runny eyes, she may have a respiratory virus such as feline viral rhinotracheitis or feline calicivirus. Signs of viral respiratory disease include a watery or puslike discharge from the eyes and nose, lots of sneezing, and ulcers in her mouth or on her nose. Respiratory viruses can develop into pneumonia or a secondary bacterial infection, so it’s important to take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as you notice signs. These types of viruses are highly contagious, so if you have multiple cats, isolate the sick one so she doesn’t spread the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.